Israeli Settlements

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the expropriation of 23 square miles of Palestinian land to the east of Jerusalem to build homes for settlers.

Bill Rammell: We have long made it clear to the Israeli Government, that any Israeli settlement activity is not only illegal under international law, it is also in contravention of Israel's obligations under the Roadmap and detrimental to the peace process. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary voiced strong opposition to illegal Israeli settlements during his visit to the region on 16-19 November 2008. I also raised the issue during my visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian territories on 21-23 December 2008.

Radio Frequencies

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on  (a) the UK's obligations arising from membership of the International Telecommunication Union and  (b) the provisions of its regulations relating to harmful radio interference; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 15 December 2008
	 I have been asked to reply.
	BERR have received one representation on the UK's membership of the International Telecommunications Union and the provisions of the Radio Regulations relating to harmful radio interference, which was received from the hon. member for South Staffordshire on a constituents complaint regarding interference issues relating to power-line adaptors.

Radio Frequencies

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps, in accordance with the International Telecommunications Union regulations on harmful radio interference, to ensure that the operation of electrical apparatus or installations, including power and telecommunications distribution networks, does not cause harmful interference to any radio communications service, with particular reference to international shortwave broadcasting and amateur radio; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 17 December 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is a specialised agency of the United Nations with responsibility for information and communication technologies. The ITU Constitution is one of the basic texts of the organisation and this describes its function in relation to interference. The Constitution defines the role of the ITU in the prevention of harmful interference between radio stations of different countries. This is achieved through a process of management of radio frequencies, and orbital positions and characteristics of satellites. In rare cases where interference does occur, the ITU coordinates efforts to eliminate harmful interference between radio stations of different countries.
	The Radio Regulations determines the level of protection from harmful interference which one country may claim from another through a process of allocating frequency bands to radio communication services. The ITU maintains a system of registration of frequency use and the rights to protection of a given service are determined by a combination of compliance with the allocation table, registration with the ITU, and the sharing arrangements between services allocated in the same band.
	Due to the nature of short wave broadcasting and amateur radio, received signals are often weak and susceptible to local interference—in particular, from the wide range of modern electronic equipment to be found in the typical domestic environment.

Energy: Disadvantaged

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to require energy companies to inform customers about assistance available to vulnerable groups in their social tariff schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Suppliers agreed at the Fuel Poverty Summit organised by Ofgem in April, to provide greater visibility of their offers. Following this Ofgem have worked with the suppliers to ensure that information about their social tariffs and programmes and a contact phone number for consumers to check their eligibility, is available on all the suppliers' websites.
	Energy suppliers have committed to collectively spend £100 million this year, rising to £125 million next year and £150 million by 2011 on social assistance. In order to meet this commitment to Government suppliers need to inform their customers about the assistance available to vulnerable groups through their social tariff scheme.
	Expenditure on suppliers' social assistance is monitored by Ofgem and early indications from suppliers to them is that since this time last year the numbers of customer accounts on social tariffs have at least doubled and will exceed the 600,000 customer accounts originally suppliers estimated that would benefit this winter which is a good indication of the level of awareness of the assistance suppliers offer.

Departmental Advertising

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by his Department on advertising in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office's advertising expenditure in the 2007-08 financial year, excluding agencies and executive NDPBs, was £454,075. The main advertising campaigns funded included public information campaigns concerning Fireworks Safety, Vehicle Theft and Unknown Callers.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when his Department appointed a senior information risk owner in accordance with the report, Data Handling Procedures in Government and the accompanying document Cross-departmental Actions: Mandatory Minimum Action; and what grade the person holds within the Department.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office has had a senior information risk owner (SIRO) appointed at director level and a member of the departmental board since 2003.

Departmental Marketing

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 12 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1209W, on departmental marketing, how much his Department's  (a) agencies and  (b) executive non-departmental public bodies have spent on advertising in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) spent £454,075 on advertising during the 2007-08 financial year. The NIO's agencies recorded total expenditure of £213,518 on advertising during this period. The main advertising campaigns funded included public information campaigns concerning Fireworks Safety, Vehicle Theft and Unknown Callers.
	Information for the NIO's executive non-departmental bodies is an operational matter for each of the bodies, who operate independently of Government. I would encourage the hon. Member to write to the respective chief executives.
	Details of the NIO's non-departmental public bodies can be found in the NIO 2008 departmental report:
	http://www.nio.gov.uk/northern_ireland_office_departmental_report_2008.pdf
	All expenditure has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Marketing

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 12 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1209W, on departmental marketing, what advertisements were funded during 2007-08.

Shaun Woodward: The high volume of transactions within the Department's advertising expenditure codes means that details of all the advertisements funded during 2007-08 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, the main advertising campaigns funded included Fireworks Safety, Vehicle Theft and Unknown Callers.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's estimate was in 2006 of the duration of the incursion of British troops into Helmand province; and what his current estimate is.

John Hutton: When the then Defence Secretary announced our deployment to Helmand on 26 January 2006,  Official Report, column 1532, it was described as a three year deployment.
	However, we have always made clear that we would keep the commitment of UK forces under review.
	As the Prime Minister said in his 12 December 2007 statement, and has been made clear subsequently, the UK's strategy for Afghanistan is long-term and based on a comprehensive approach to security, political, social and economic development. We are therefore planning to maintain forces in Afghanistan for the foreseeable future.

Defence: Procurement

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the effect on the defence procurement budget of the reduction in the value of sterling in the last six months.

John Hutton: Fluctuations in the value of sterling have had a significant effect over the last six months on a range of Defence equipment acquisition projects, though the precise aggregate financial impact of these changes over that period could be provided only at disproportionate cost, given that foreign exchange is only one of a number of factors leading to cost variations in projects. Across 2008-09 as a whole, however, the Defence Equipment and Support organisation estimates a pressure of some £130 million from foreign exchange movements. The Department's in-year financial management process takes into account overall cost changes, including within equipment acquisition, to ensure that the Defence programme remains within available resources.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department appointed a senior information risk owner in accordance with the report, Data Handling Procedures in Government and the accompanying document Cross-departmental Actions: Mandatory Minimum Action; and what grade the person holds within the Department.

Bob Ainsworth: The director general information (a two star/senior civil servant pay band 2) was discharging the role of senior information risk owner (SIRO) by late 2003 and formally acquired the role and title, as directed by the permanent under secretary, in response to the February 2004 request from the Cabinet Secretary for all Departments to make such an appointment. The DG information post has since been re-titled chief information officer (CIO). Following the publication of the Data Handling Procedures in Government report the CIO was reconfirmed in the role of SIRO. The SIRO leads on information risk issues at the Defence Operating Board and is called to the Defence Board as and when required.

Nuclear Weapons: Testing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long the 2005 decontamination exercise on Kiritimati took; and how much the exercise cost, broken down by category of expenditure.

Kevan Jones: The contract works on the island commenced during January 2005 and the last package of waste left the Island in May 2008, although most of the scrap metal had been removed by November 2006.
	The costs of removing the waste (not necessarily decontamination) currently amount to £7.0 million broken down as follows (figures are rounded):
	
		
			   £ million 
			 General items (insurance, mobilisation, provision of compound) 3.0 
			 Whole island tasks (removal of asbestos, radiological survey and known radium luminised dials) 0.5 
			 Waste removal (vehicles and plant, tanks, boilers drums and bitumen spills, asphalt plant, coral crushing plant, and bunkers) 2.5 
			 Shipping and disposal 1.0

Regional Planning and Development: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what work has been undertaken by the regional development agency coastal towns network in the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: The RDA-led Coastal Towns Network aims to improve coordination between central, regional and local government in the development of policy and delivery, at a regional level, of interventions in coastal towns, providing a focus on good practice dissemination, and identification of barriers to policy implementation. It brings together representatives from all the RDAs except AWM, and includes central government departments, agencies and local authorities with an interest in the costal towns' agenda. It was formed earlier this year.
	RDAs have also been working in co-operation with DCMS and CABE to coordinate engagement with the Sea Change programme (DCMS capital investment fund for seaside resorts to improve the arts, public space, cultural assets and heritage projects). The RDAs in partnership with local authorities are identifying suitable transformational projects to be taken forward by each region either individually or by matching with other funding streams, such as Single Programme, ERDF or Heritage Lottery Funding.
	Set out in the list are examples of activities and interventions by RDAs designed to support coastal towns in their regions. More detailed activities, by region, can be found on relevant RDA Website or the RDA National Secretariat website.
	 NWDA
	In the North West, NWDA produced a North West coastal strategy "A New Vision for North West Coastal Resorts" in 2003 which provides the framework for agency support for coastal towns in the region. Specific activity in the last 12 months includes:
	In Southport Completion of the Lord Street Area improvement initiative where the RDA contributed £2.6 million in total; ongoing support for the refurbishment of Southport Floral Hall and Theatre to be completed in March 2009 with a total RDA contribution of £4.4 million; and support for the acquisition of Pleasureland amusement park by Sefton Metropolitan borough council with a total RDA contribution of £2.7 million.
	In Morecambe, NWDA has signed a Resort Action Plan with the local authority to provide the framework for Morecambe's regeneration including contributing funding to the restoration of the Midland Hotel, feasibility work for the refurbishment of Morecambe Winter Gardens and is in discussion with Lancaster city council about further plans for the continued regeneration of Morecambe.
	In Blackpool NWDA has been providing ongoing support for ReBlackpool the Urban Regeneration Company and the main delivery mechanism for Blackpool's regeneration.
	 One North East
	In Blyth the RDA has invested significantly in an internationally recognised centre of new and renewable energy research (NaREC) and has stimulated a cluster of innovative manufacturing around this critical new economic sector.
	In other areas, such as Seaham, a former colliery town with significant economic challenges, the RDA has invested in place based regeneration and supported the attraction of businesses through business accommodation projects and public realm investment.
	 SEEDA
	SEEDA, with partners, produced a Coastal South East Framework in 2008 that is reflected within both the Regional Economic Strategy and Corporate Plan of the agency. This identifies a number of actions to support regional and local action including;
	Identifying a number of the regions coastal areas as priority places for investment and growth: Hastings, Margate and Dover for major regeneration, whilst Portsmouth and Urban South Hampshire is one of the initial MAAs and a Diamond for Investment and Growth.
	Brighton and Hove, West and East Sussex and Thames Gateway Kent are identified as a Diamond and a potential MAA.
	Supporting new university campuses in Hastings, Folkestone and Bognor Regis; and major infrastructure projects in Hastings, Southampton and Chatham Maritime. Pam Alexander, the CE, Chairs the Margate Renewal Partnership, and the agency has restructured, strengthening the Area Teams, to support work in priority places.
	 SWRDA
	In the south west the RDA is:
	Investing £6.6 million into a £11.3 million programme of public realm work improvements along Weymouth seafront. The intention is to target the key gateways onto the seafront, create new high quality spaces and routes along the seafront and replace/upgrade existing buildings. Weymouth and Portland is the Olympic sailing venue host and the improvements will upgrade the image of the resort in time for the Olympics and provide a legacy for the town post 2012.
	 Yorkshire Forward
	The refurbishment of the Bridlington Spa Complex was completed early 2008 and discussions are continuing with regard to the redevelopment of the Marina.
	Cleethorpes Renaissance Programme: work has been completed on the Lakeside Arena and is in the process of commissioning a strategic development framework for the whole of Cleethorpes.
	Hornsea has been prioritised as part of the Rural Enterprise Programme and the RDA is working with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Hornsea Town Council to develop an area specific investment plan.
	 EEDA
	Contributed £6 million in Kings Lynn to a £23 million programme to support the comprehensive redevelopment of 50ha of Brownfield land for a mixed use development scheme. Project involves the construction of new link road, associated infrastructure, new homes and integration with the town.
	In Great Yarmouth, ongoing support for construction of breakwaters and associated maritime access works to form a new outer harbour for Great Yarmouth providing roll-on/roll-off facilities for freight and passenger services and general cargo handling;
	In Lowestoft 1st East provided core funding for regeneration plans for the waterfront areas of the town;
	Ipswich Waterfront supporting a scheme to upgrade and bring back into fuller public use the dockside roadways which lie within the conservation area and are not part of the public highway.
	In Southend supporting the Renaissance Southend programme by co-funding the town centre Area Action Plan (AAP) and the seafront AAP as part of the Local Development Framework process.
	 EMDA
	Allocated £2 million, under the LEADER approach element of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), to the East Lindsay coastal action zone and is working with Boston Borough and South Holland District Councils to develop their RDPE programme;
	Provided capital funding to public realm work in Mablethorpe; and
	Working with the owners of Fantasy Island theme park at Skegness on their continued development plans.

Carers' Benefits

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many  (a) carers and  (b) carers providing more than (i) 20 hours and (ii) 35 hours per week of care are receiving incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many  (a) carers and  (b) carers providing more than (i) 20 hours and (ii) 35 hours per week of care who are receiving incapacity benefit also have underlying entitlement to carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement;

Jonathan R Shaw: It is estimated that the number of adult carers in receipt of incapacity benefit is 200,000. Of these it is estimated that 100,000 provide more than 20 hours of care per week.
	Sample sizes are too small to yield reliable results for the number of adult carers in receipt of incapacity benefit providing more than 35 hours of care per week.
	The information required to determine underlying entitlement for carer's allowance is not collected.
	 Notes:
	1. The Family Resources Survey is a nationally representative sample of approximately 26,000 households.
	2. Data for 2006-07 was collected between April 2006 and March 2007.
	3. In the Family Resources Survey carers are defined as 'people involved in the provision of any regular service or help to someone in or outside their household who is sick, disabled or elderly'.
	4. 35 hours is the minimum hours of care that need to be supplied for a single individual to qualify for Carer's Allowance.
	5. The figures are based on a sample of households which have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors which align the Family Resources Survey to Government Office Region populations by age and sex. Estimates are subject to sampling error and remaining non-response error.
	6. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000.
	 Source:
	Family Resources Survey 2006-07

Offenders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many former prisoners are employed by his Department; and what his Department's policy is on employing former prisoners.

Jonathan R Shaw: I am unable to answer how many former prisoners the Department employs as we do not collect or record this information. We would be unable to gather the information as paperwork relating to appointment is destroyed in line with the Data Protection Act.
	 Current policy position
	Our policy on the recruitment of ex offenders is to employ individuals with unspent convictions wherever it is appropriate to do so. A risk assessment is made on each individual case taking into account the nature of the offence and the appropriateness of recruiting the individual concerned into the specific post on offer. Occasionally it is necessary to refuse employment to ex offenders but this decision is not taken lightly. The Department is fully compliant with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and with Cabinet Office guidelines.

Pension Credit

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will review the way in which income from savings is taken into account in calculating entitlement to pension credit following the reduction in the Bank rate to two per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 11 December 2008
	Pension credit disregards savings up to £6000 (£10,000 for those in a care home). The vast majority of pensioners (around 80 per cent.) who are eligible for pension credit have savings of £6,000 or less and do not have tariff income applied.
	Pension credit rules assume a notional rate of income at a rate of £1 for every £500 (or part of £500) savings held above the £6,000 threshold. This is half the rate assumed for working age benefits and is significantly more generous than those of the previous minimum income guarantee.
	The formula is not intended to represent any rate of return that could be obtained from investing capital. It provides a simple method of calculating the weekly contribution that people with capital in excess of £6,000 (or £10,000 if in a care home) are expected to make from those resources to help meet their normal living expenses.
	Pension credit, through the savings credit, is designed to specifically reward pensioners with low or modest second pensions or savings. Deemed income from capital is also qualifying income for the savings credit.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Jonathan R Shaw: My Department has not, at this stage, developed plans on how mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen in 2012.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in discussions with the Royal Household about how to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

Bosnia: Overseas Aid

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department has given to Bosnia and Herzegovina in each year since 1997; and how it has been used.

Michael Foster: Details on the Department for International Development's (DFID) bilateral expenditure and imputed share of multilateral official development assistance (ODA) in Bosnia-Herzegovina since 1997-98 are in the following table.
	
		
			  DFID expenditure on development in Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1997-98 to 2007-08 
			  £000 
			   Total DFID bilateral expenditure  Imputed DFID share of multilateral ODA 
			 1997-98 1,501 30,697 
			 1998-99 2,599 12,954 
			 1999-2000 4,143 14,512 
			 2000-01 3,383 10,286 
			 2001-02 3,547 12,672 
			 2002-03 6,647 13,862 
			 2003-04 6,754 9,549 
			 2004-05 5,224 10,568 
			 2005-06 3,282 6,625 
			 2006-07 3,975 8,199 
			 2007-08 4,905 — 
		
	
	DFID's aid has been focused on socio-economic development, supporting activities under the UK Government through the global conflict prevention pool (GCPP) and de-mining activities.
	Key programme objectives are to strengthen the capacity of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Government in its path towards EU integration. We specifically support:
	the development of an aid co-ordination mechanism;
	the development of Country Development Strategy processes;
	strengthening the budgetary process;
	public administration reform;
	economic, fiscal and social policy reform, including social insurance policy;
	support to the national justice sector reform strategy;
	strengthening Government statistical systems;
	the business enabling environment, and
	good donor practices.

North Korea: Overseas Aid

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid the Government has provided to North Korea in each of the last 10 years; how much is planned to be provided; and what the  (a) purpose and  (b) nature of this aid is.

Michael Foster: Details on the UK's bilateral expenditure and imputed share of multilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) in North Korea over the last 10 years are in the following table.
	
		
			  UK gross public expenditure on development to North Korea, 1998-99 to 2007-08 
			  £000 
			   UK bilateral assistance  Imputed UK share of multilateral ODA 
			 1998-99 306 5,888 
			 1999-2000 638 3,493 
			 2000-01 887 3,835 
			 2001-02 2,119 2,372 
			 2002-03 — 6,715 
			 2003-04 712 2,878 
			 2004-05 712 2,573 
			 2005-06 — 1,932 
			 2006-07 — 998 
			 2007-08 732  
		
	
	Of the UK's bilateral assistance, £83,000 in 2000-01, £42,000 in 2001-02 and £30,000 in 2007-08 was provided in support of English language training. In 2007-08, £53,000 was provided to support economic and development planning. All other UK bilateral expenditure was provided as humanitarian assistance.
	There are currently no plans for DFID to start a bilateral programme in North Korea.

Coastal Areas: Departmental Coordination

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to improve its arrangements for co-ordination with other Government departments of policy affecting coastal towns in the last two years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: We continue to work closely with other Government Departments to improve the process for co-ordinating the development of policy in coastal areas.
	This year an important development has been the Coastal Towns Working Group, a cross-departmental group, which was set up in February 2008, following the House of Commons Select Committee Inquiry on Coastal Towns.
	DEFRA plays a key role in this group which aims to coordinate its efforts to develop policies and address the challenges faced by coastal towns and to promote cross-government understanding of the needs of coastal towns by looking at social, environmental and economic issues together.
	There are a wide range of policy areas, activities and initiatives within Government which have implications for coastal towns. To show how these activities, including the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, will contribute to a more coordinated approach to decision making at the coast, we will be publishing a strategy for promoting an integrated approach to the management of coastal areas in England, in January 2009.

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) letters and  (b) e-mails received by his Department had not been responded to as at 15 December 2008.

Huw Irranca-Davies: From 1 January to 15 December 2008, DEFRA's Customer Contact Unit handled 37,979 pieces of correspondence. This included emails received via the DEFRA Helpline and letters from MPs, stakeholders and the public. We responded to 82 per cent. with the 15 working day target.
	As at 15 December 2008, 1624 letters and 515 emails received via the DEFRA Helpline were unanswered. Of those unanswered, 700 were over the 15 working day target.
	The number of unanswered emails, received elsewhere in DEFRA, cannot be provided within the disproportionate cost limit, as to do so would require gathering information from every official in the Department.
	The Cabinet Office publishes an annual report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members'/Peers' correspondence. Information relating to 2008 will be published as soon as it has been collated. The report for 2007 was published on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 71-74WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Data Protection

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civil servants in his Department have been  (a) investigated,  (b) suspended and  (c) dismissed for (i) losing and (ii) deliberately disclosing (A) data stored on departmental equipment and (B) confidential information in each year since 1997.

Huw Irranca-Davies: There have been less than five such disciplinary breaches in the Department since 1997. The details are withheld on the grounds of confidentiality.

Flood Control

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which recommendations of the Pitt Review  (a) his Department and  (b) the Environment Agency have implemented.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Government have made significant progress in implementing the recommendations of Sir Michael Pitt's review of the summer 2007 floods. The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn) made a statement to the House of Commons and published the Government's response to the review on 17 December 2008. It sets out what has already been done and a clear action plan for the remaining steps to deliver against the challenging agenda identified by Sir Michael. The Government's response can be viewed at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/floods07/Govtresptopitt.pdf.

Flood Control: Databases

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether flood risk address information will be made available  (a) publicly and  (b) to interested parties.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency make information from their National Flood Risk Assessment available to the public via their website. This information can be searched by postcode and provides an indication of flood risk for areas rather than particular properties. On payment of a small charge, the Environment Agency will also provide any more detailed information that they hold, but again this generally relates to areas rather than properties.
	Information from the National Flood Risk Assessment is also supplied to insurers and other organisations.

Flood Control: EC Law

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made towards the implementation of the EU flood directive.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Floods Directive came into force on 26 November 2007 and member states have two years in which to transpose the Directive into domestic law. DEFRA is co-ordinating the transposition of the Directive into UK law and is ultimately responsible for its timely and compliant implementation. A UK Floods Directive liaison group monitor progress against the project timetable.
	Given that the Directive largely mirrors our existing approach to flood risk mapping and planning in England, we are developing proposals that build on these arrangements, taking into account forms of flooding that were previously not mapped, such as surface water, groundwater and reservoirs. Our current proposals are to transpose the Directive through the Floods and Water Bill.
	The transposition will be subject to a full public consultation, which is expected to take place during 2009.

Flooding Lessons Learned Review

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress has been made on implementing the recommendations contained in the Pitt report on flooding; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Government have made significant progress in implementing the recommendations of Sir Michael Pitt's Review of the summer 2007 floods. The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Hilary Benn) made a statement to the House of Commons and published the Government's response to the Review on 17 December 2008. It sets out what has already been done and a clear action plan for the remaining steps to deliver against the challenging agenda identified by Sir Michael. The Government's response can be viewed at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/floods07/Govtresptopitt.pdf

Geographical Information Systems

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1015W, on geographical information systems, which Government bodies will participate in the provision of data to the national geo-portal.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Implementation of a national geo-portal is being considered among the options for INSPIRE. If a national geo-portal is implemented, it is envisaged that all Government bodies including the devolved administrations and local authorities across the UK would be given the opportunity to participate in the provision of data.

Religious Buildings: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 12 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1229W, on religious buildings: fees and charges, whether an assessment of the effect on the voluntary sector of changes to charges on places of worship was made;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the average water bill for church premises;
	(3)  what checks Ofwat undertakes; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that water companies do not gain additional revenue from new methods of charging.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Neither DEFRA nor Ofwat, the independent economic regulator of the water industry, collects information on the increases in water bills for groups of customers of a particular funding or charitable status. Where a company makes a change to the way it charges for water or sewerage services, Ofwat challenges the company's proposals to make sure charges are not unduly preferential to one customer group over another. Groups of customers are defined by the costs they are likely to impose and are independent of the financial or charitable status of individual non-household customers. Ofwat's checks also ensure that the company gains no additional revenue from the new method of charging.
	Part of Ofwat's duty is to approve companies' charges schemes. These schemes outline how water and sewerage companies will charge their customers. It is for the company to decide on its methods of charging. When a company introduces new tariffs, Ofwat check that these are consistent with price limits and company licence conditions.
	Each year Ofwat checks water company charges principal statements to make sure the weighted average increase in all of the company's charges does not exceed the company's price limits, for customers using less than 50 mega-litres per annum.

Seas and Oceans: Biodiversity

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of  (a) flora and  (b) fauna population trends on UK marine reefs.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Reefs are a feature under the Habitats Directive (encompassing rocky reef and biogenic reef) and as such, its parameters are reported for Favourable Conservation Status (FCS). The Status is determined for Area, Range, Structure and Function, and Future prospects.
	For the 2007 reporting of FCS, the Common Standards Monitoring work undertaken by the country agencies was used to provide data for the last two parameters. However, this was essentially a baseline assessment, rather than pure monitoring, as many areas have only been surveyed once.
	The overall judgement for reefs was 'unknown' for all parameters as there was no basis upon which to judge possible trends. It is likely that when the next report is due (in five years time) we will have more idea of trends.
	Results of the UK's FCS reporting can be found on the European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) website at:
	www.eionet.europa.eu.

Tidal Power: River Severn

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what input his Department has had to the Government's Severn Tidal Power Feasibility study.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA has played a central role in contributing advice to the cross-government Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study, in particular regarding the potential environmental impacts of a tidal power scheme in the Severn. The Department is working closely with Natural England, the Government's statutory conservation adviser, which has provided supporting scientific evidence and advice on environmental issues.
	The Secretary of State is a member of the Severn Tidal Power Ministerial group, and DEFRA officials represent the Department on the project board that oversees the Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study. Some members of DEFRA and Natural England staff have also been seconded into the Severn Tidal Power team within the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Water Companies: Debts

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the issue of bad debt on the part of water companies.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Farming and the Environment (Jane Kennedy), met Water UK on 18 November 2008. A range of issues were discussed, including bad debt in the water industry.
	The problem of bad debt is being examined as part of the Walker review of charging for household water and sewerage services. The interim report is expected in spring 2009.

Community Relations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which grievances referred to on page 36 of the report The Prevent Strategy: A Guide for Local Partners in England published in June 2008 resonate most at  (a) a local level and  (b) a regional or national level; and which local authorities are most affected.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no common hierarchy of grievances at local, regional or national level. And hierarchy is difficult to discern when localised grievances such as socio-economic issues are bundled into a single narrative with national issues about government policies and international issues such as foreign policy.
	As "The Prevent Strategy: A Guide for Local Partners in England" makes clear on page 70
	"...real or perceived grievances may develop about aspects of Government policy (particularly foreign policy), discrimination or racism, lack of social mobility, perceived mistreatment in the criminal justice system and counter-terrorism measures. Perceptions of distorted media representations of communities or conflicts are also relevant. A shared sense of grievance locally, nationally and internationally may reinforce group identity."
	Many people express grievances. But only a tiny minority choose to use them to justify violence, often prompted by radicalisers who exacerbate and selectively exploit grievances to recruit people to their cause. This is why the Prevent strategy aims to address grievances as one of its core elements. Where grievances have substance government should explain its position clearly, setting out what action might already be undertaking. Where concerns arise from misunderstandings or genuine differences of opinion then clarification and openness are equally important. But where there is distortion or fabrication of the Government's position then we need to say so, firmly.
	Research into grievances is ongoing and we are encouraging local authorities, through engagement and research, to gain a better understanding of those grievances which resonate most in their communities.

Community Relations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's definition is of political extremism, as referred to on page 18 of the report, Guidance for local authorities on community cohesion, contingency planning and tension monitoring.

Sadiq Khan: I refer the hon. Member for Wycombe to the answer given on 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 992W, to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill).

Community Relations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the regional conferences with young people to debate extremism issues referred to on page 8 of the report Preventing Violent Extremism: A Strategy for Delivery will be held; where they will be held; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Home Office are joint sponsors of nine Youth Conferences on Extremism being delivered by the UK Youth Parliament and the Association for Chief Police Officers. There will be one in each of the nine Government office regions in England. To date, two have been held, one in the North East on 8 August 2008 and one in Yorkshire and Humber on 22 November. The remaining seven conferences will be held between January and March 2009, confirmed dates are:
	London: Thursday 19 February 2009
	East Midlands: Thursday 19 February 2009
	North West: Thursday 26 February 2009
	South West: Saturday 21 March 2009
	The purpose behind these conferences is to provide safe places for young people from diverse communities to meet and discuss terrorism and extremism around four key
	themes:
	Terrorism and what it means to young people
	Violent Extremism and what it means to young people
	Youth Leadership
	How the police should work with young people

Deprivation Indicators

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the geographical barriers score of each Parliamentary constituency in the Indices of Deprivation 2007 was, ranked from highest to lowest.

Sadiq Khan: Statistics from the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2007 have not been produced for parliamentary constituencies.
	The Indices of Deprivation 2007 (ID 2007) were constructed at lower super output area (LSOA) level. LSOAs are consistent in size and over time, allow identification of small pockets of deprivation. There are 32,482 LSOAs in England. Because parliamentary constituencies are relatively large and subject to boundary change, it is not feasible to produce the Indices at this geographical level.
	Six summary measures of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2007 have been produced at both local authority district and unitary authority levels. The summary measures at district level focus on different aspects of multiple deprivation in the area. The six measures are 'Average Score, Average Rank, Extent, Local Concentration, Income Scale, and Employment Scale'.
	IMD07 and the local authority summaries can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/neighbourhoodrenewal/deprivation/deprivation07/

Ordnance Survey: Databases

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 19 November 2008,  Official Report, column 514W, on Valuation Office: databases, if she will place in the Library a copy of the specification and plans used by Ordnance Survey to align the databases.

Iain Wright: There is no published specification or plan for the database alignment work being undertaken by Ordnance Survey, as this work involves a process of continuous improvement, based upon an evolving specification. This has been continuously developed as the project has progressed. The result is a pattern of work-flow based upon the outputs of an address matching software 'engine' and manual editing.
	To ensure better cross-Government standardisation of address data, and to support the principles of the Digital National Framework (DNF), this cross reference table (X-ref) is available free of charge to any organisation, whether they are an Ordnance Survey customer or not.
	I have today placed a copy of the current version of 'X-ref' in the Library of the House.

Ordnance Survey: Databases

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 19 November 2008,  Official Report, column 514W, on Valuation Office: databases, what the estimated cost to Ordnance Survey of the database alignment exercise is.

Iain Wright: The work of database alignment forms one part of Ordnance Survey's continuous process of product development and enhancement, which involves a number of integrated processes, and as such the costs of this specific aspect are not presently recorded separately. Doing this at the present time could be established only at disproportionate cost.

Planning Obligations

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have not spent any Section 106 monies on capital programmes within their districts in the latest period for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: Information on the value of Section 106 monies not spent on capital programmes by each local authority is not collected centrally. However, the Department for Communities and Local Government has produced research reports into the value of planning obligations in England for 2003-04 and 2005-06 based on a sample of authorities across the country. These reports are available on the Department's website. New research covering 2007-08 has been commissioned and will be published in the summer.
	The research report for 2005-06 estimated that of £4 billion in planning obligation agreements, approximately £3 billion would have been delivered in practice. The shortfall would have been due to the fact that not all of the permissions to which the agreements were attached would be implemented and some others would be renegotiated. The table below shows how the estimated £4 billion was categorised.
	
		
			  The total value of planning obligations in 2005-06 (£) 
			Percentage of total 
			 Open Space and the Environment 215,684,473 5 
			 Transport and Travel 361,956,329 9 
			 Community Works and Leisure 75,439,392 2 
			 Education 154,053,871 4 
			 Other 149,893,307 4 
			 County Councils (est) 10,000,000 <1 
			 Max Land Contributions 960,000,000 24 
			 Affordable Housing 2,000,000,000 50 
			 Estimated Total Value £4 billion  
		
	
	appropriate openness over the collection and use of si06 monies is an important element of local authority accountability and the Government recommends in planning Circular 05/05 that authorities keep accurate records which can be used to inform the public. In July, the Government announced in the Empowerment White Paper that it will explore whether more can be done to strengthen this local accountability.

Planning Permission

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to issue a formal government response to the Killian-Pretty review.

Iain Wright: The Government will publish a formal response to the recommendations of the Killian Pretty review shortly

Temporary Accommodation: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) children and  (b) adults in the Peterborough City council area were in temporary accommodation on 30 September (i) 2005, (ii) 2006, (iii) 2007 and (iv) 2008.

Iain Wright: Information about English local authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected quarterly at local authority level, about households rather than individuals.
	Data collected includes the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to secure that suitable accommodation is available). If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
	Information on the numbers of households housed in temporary accommodation is reported quarterly by local authorities as at the last day of each quarter. The figures include: those households which have been accepted as owed the main homelessness duty; those for which enquiries are pending; those being accommodated for a limited period because they have been found intentionally homeless and in priority need; those being accommodated pending possible referral to another authority, and those being accommodated pending the outcome of a local authority review or county court appeal.
	The number of dependent children (or expected children) in these households is also collected, but data on the number of adults is not. The figures for total households, total number of families and total children in temporary accommodation, reported by Peterborough City council, as at 30 September in 2005 to 2008, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Households in temporary accommodation, and number of children within these households, in Peterborough local authority as at 30 September, 2005 to 2008 
			   Total households in TA arranged by authority  Total number of households with dependent children  Total children (and expected children) within these households 
			 2005 83 56 93 
			 2006 77 40 81 
			 2007 67 30 37 
			 2008 81 33 55

Travelling People

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of unauthorised traveller sites in England.

Iain Wright: In July 2008 local authorities recorded 981 unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller sites in England.

Travelling People

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in respect of which areas reviews of Green Belt and the provision of traveller sites are recommended in draft regional spatial strategies.

Iain Wright: There are currently four draft regional spatial strategies (RSS) undergoing revisions.
	 East Midlands :
	The Government are currently considering representations made on the Proposed Changes and are working towards the final issue of the RSS in 2009.
	 Review of Green Belts recommended
	The draft RSS recommends a review of the most sustainable locations for growth within the Nottingham Core Housing Market Area over the next 25 years, which may include considering locations within the Green Belt.
	This review needs to be done as part of the evidence base underpinning the next RSS review.
	 Provision of traveller pitches recommended
	The Draft East Midlands RSS sets out the number of traveller pitches required in the region and it is up to local authorities to identify specific locations in local plans.
	 West Midlands Phase 2 and Phase 3 :
	The West Midlands is taking a phased approach to the revision of its RSS.
	Consultation on Phase 2 is completed and it will be submitted to an Examination in Public in Spring 2009.
	 Review of Green Belts recommended
	The draft Phase 2 West Midlands regional spatial strategy identifies the need for review of Green Belt round Coventry and Redditch.
	 Provision of traveller pitches recommended
	The provision of traveller pitches will be addressed in Phase 3 of the RSS review. The West Midlands Regional Assembly are currently developing option papers for Phase 3 and have yet to commence consultation.
	 South East :
	The Government are currently considering representations made on the Proposed Changes and are working towards the final issue of the RSS in 2009.
	 Review of Green Belts recommended
	The Government's Proposed Changes included proposals for selective Green Belt review at Oxford and Guildford, and possibly south of Woking, plus small scale reviews at Chertesy and Redhill/Reigate.
	 Provision of traveller pitches recommended
	The Draft South East RSS sets out the number of traveller pitches required across the region, however it is up to the local authorities to identify the specific location of traveller sites in local plans.
	 South West :
	The Government are currently considering representations made on the Proposed Changes and are working towards the final issue of the RSS in 2009.
	 Review of Green Belts recommended
	The Proposed Changes included proposals to revise the Bristol and Bath, Gloucester and Cheltenham and South East Dorset Green Belts.
	 Provision of traveller pitches recommended
	The Draft South West RSS sets out the number of traveller pitches for each local authority area, however it is up to the local authorities to identify the specific location of traveller sites in local plans.
	Four RSSs have already been issued by the Secretary of State and the West Midlands (Phase 1) RSS:
	15 January 2008—West Midlands (Phase 1) Black Country sub-regional plan
	12 May 2008—East of England
	21 May 2008—Yorkshire and Humber
	15 July 2008—North East
	30 September 2008—North West

Children in Care

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what rules apply to the out-of-county placement of vulnerable  (a) adults and  (b) children; what procedures are employed to monitor such placements; and how the costs of such placements are shared.

Beverley Hughes: This reply relates to England only.
	 (a) The Department of Health is responsible for the framework relating to the accommodation and support of vulnerable adults who are assessed as requiring community care services. We will forward the hon. member's enquiry to that Department so that he can receive a written reply to part  (a) of his question.
	 (b) There are extensive regulations and guidance setting out local authority responsibilities towards all children that they look after. The placing local authority will always remain responsible for maintaining the child's care plan setting out how the authority will arrange the services necessary to meet to their assessment the child's needs. However, where children are placed out of their responsible local authority, the local authorities involved will need to take into account the regulations below that provide information about funding responsibilities for health and education services.
	The arrangements for provision of and payment for health care for looked after children placed out-of-authority children are set out in statutory guidance "Establishing the Responsible Commissioner: Guidance for PCT commissioners on the application of the legal framework on PCT's secondary care responsibilities" which was issued in 2006.
	"The Education (Areas to which Pupils and Students Belong) Regulations 1996" specify arrangements for funding when a pupil living in one local authority area is ordinarily resident in a different local area. These regulations apply to any pupil, including looked after children living in "out of authority" placements.

Children in Care: Pupil Exclusions

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many looked after children in each local education authority (LEA) have been permanently excluded by the head teacher of their school since 2005; how many of those in each LEA while officially permanently excluded remain on their original schools' rolls; and how many of them in each LEA are being educated at other establishments while permanently excluded from their original school.

Beverley Hughes: The OC2 data collection collects information on a range of outcomes for looked after children from local authorities. This information has been published in the Statistical First Release "Outcome Indicators for Children Looked After, Twelve months to 30 September 2007—England" (SFR 08/2008), which is available on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000785/index.shtml
	This publication contains figures for the period 2005-07.
	Information on exclusions from school at local authority level can be found in table 1 (in the second excel link) which shows the number of permanent exclusions during the previous school year. The OC2 data collection is an aggregate data collection from local authorities and it is therefore not possible to provide this information broken down by how many children, while officially permanently excluded remain on the original school' rolls or are being educated at other establishments.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when his Department appointed a senior information risk owner in accordance with the report, Data Handling Procedures in Government and the accompanying document Cross-departmental Actions: Mandatory Minimum Action; and what grade the person holds within the Department.

Jim Knight: The director general of Corporate Services Directorate has formally acted as SIRO since November 2007, but acted as de facto SIRO since taking up the post. The director general of Corporate Services post holder is a DCSF management board member

National Curriculum Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the value is of the contract awarded to Edexcel to administer key stage 2 tests in 2009.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) announced Edexcel as their preferred bidder for the one-year contract to supply national curriculum test operation services for the 2009 series, on 31 December 2008. The contract, worth £25 million over the contract period, covers the supply of national curriculum test operation services for key stage 2 statutory tests and other non-statutory tests for the 2009 test cycle.

National Curriculum Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority discovered that ETS had lost the contract to administer the Graduate Management Admissions Test in the US, referred to in paragraph 2.18 of the Sutherland Inquiry report, HC 62.

Jim Knight: The Department does not hold this information. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for the development and administration of National Curriculum tests. I have therefore asked QCA to write to the right. hon. Member directly in response to this question.

Nursery Schools: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects the free nursery education entitlement change from 12.5 hours to 15 hours a week to be implemented in Leeds West constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Leeds City council is a "pathfinder" local authority for the extension of the free early learning entitlement from 12 ½ to 15 hours per week. At present, around 4,000 free early learning places of 15 hours have been secured across Leeds and we expect 15 hours to be available to almost all children in Leeds by autumn 2009. We cannot separately identify figures for the Leeds West constituency.

Offenders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many former prisoners are employed by his Department; and what his Department's policy is on employing former prisoners.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department undertakes employment history, Disclosure Scotland and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks as appropriate. If these checks identify any issues around people with criminal records then suitability for employment is considered with the Department's interest paramount and the top priority is to safeguard the children and adults who we serve.
	In addition, all individuals recruited to a regulated post, or to a post where they have access to personal or sensitive data about children or vulnerable adults are subject to an enhanced CRB check.
	Although the information is used as part of the recruitment process, we do not then transfer any details on criminal records to the central personnel record and as such the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Personal Social and Health Education

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department has taken to strengthen and improve teaching in personal, social and health education.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The importance of good quality personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education has never been greater. PSHE education has a major contribution to make to young people's personal development and wellbeing. Therefore, on 23 October we announced our intention to make PSHE education statutory and launched an independent review to investigate how to achieve this in an effective and practicable way. Sir Alasdair Macdonald, head teacher at Morpeth School in Tower Hamlets, has been asked to lead the review and will report to Ministers with recommendations in April 2009.
	Alongside making PSHE statutory, our key delivery challenge is to develop the skills and confidence of the workforce that delivers PSHE education in schools. To address this, £2 million of funding is available each year to train teachers and professionals who deliver PSHE education in schools. We will encourage schools to use INSET to improve staff awareness on the duty to promote well-being and the importance of high quality PSHE education in particular. We are also working with the Training and Development Agency for Schools to develop a specialist route through initial teacher training.

Schools: Standards

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Making Good Progress pilot scheme;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the performance levels in single level tests undertaken under the Making Good Progress pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Making Good Progress pilot is a two year pilot, due to run until July 2009. It is being independently evaluated by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The interim report on the first year of the pilot has been published and a copy has been sent to the Chairman of the Select Committee for Children, Schools and Families. The report includes the summary of the December 2007 and June 2008 single level test results
	A final evaluation report which will make an assessment about the effectiveness of the pilot and its elements over the full two years is due to be published in the autumn of 2009.

Enforcement Restriction Orders

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many enforcement restriction orders have been granted by the county courts in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The county courts have not granted any enforcement restriction orders (EROs) because the provisions have not yet been introduced. Our current intention is to implement the ERO in 2010.
	The ERO scheme was enacted in Chapter 2 of Part 5 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. It was developed following extensive consultation with the advice and credit sectors. It is intended specifically to support only those debtors who encounter unforeseen short-term difficulties from which they are likely to recover in a relatively short period. Other options, such as the reformed Administration Order (AO), which is contained in Chapter 1 of Part 5 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 exist for those with more long-term problems.
	Earlier this year Her Majesty's Court Service consulted on certain aspects of the Administration and Enforcement Restriction Order schemes, including the types of debts that should be able to be protected. The response to the consultation paper: Administration and Enforcement Restriction Orders: setting the parameters, will be published shortly.

National Offender Management Service: Manpower

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the National Offender Management Service staffs' training record is based on a prison service template.

Shahid Malik: There is no prison service template for recording staff training. It is for individual prison establishments and headquarters groups to maintain training records in the most effective way for them.

Anaemia

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidelines his Department provides to GPs on the treatment of pernicious anaemia;
	(2)  what quantitative data his Department has compiled on the incidence of pernicious anaemia by  (a) geographical location,  (b) age and  (c) presence of existing auto-immune disease;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to increase  (a) prevention and  (b) diagnosis of pernicious anaemia in infants and juveniles;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of awareness among medical professionals of the prevalence of pernicious anaemia;
	(5)  if he will give consideration to the replacement of treatments of hydroxocobalamin with cyanacobalamin; and what research his Department has commissioned into such treatment;
	(6)  if he will make routine pernicious anaemia testing available to vulnerable groups.

Ann Keen: The Department has not issued any recent guidance to general practitioners (GPs) on treatment of pernicious anaemia.
	The Department does not itself compile any quantitative data on incidence of pernicious anaemia, as this condition is generally treated by GPs at primary care level. The link between low vitamin B12 status and subsequent development of adverse health outcomes and the incidence and prevalence of such outcomes is unclear. Some data is available from the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) which contains longitudinal medical records from approx 420 primary care practices throughout the United Kingdom (4 per cent. of total number in UK). The following table shows the number of patients (aged 65 years and over) in the GPRD with at least one record of pernicious anaemia (2005).
	
		
			  Number of patients (aged 65 years and over) in the GPRD (2005) with at least one record of pernicious anaemia and at least one prescription for vitamin B12 
			  Country  Number of patients  As percentage of total number of patients aged 65 years and over registered in the GPRD for 2005* 
			 England 406 0.11 
			 Wales 23 0.10 
			 Scotland 44 0.27 
			 Northern Ireland 15 0.12 
			 Total 488 0.12 
			  Source: General Practice Research Database 
		
	
	There are no steps currently being taken by the Department to increase prevention and diagnosis of pernicious anaemia in infants and juveniles. This is an extremely rare condition in children.
	Assessments of medical professionals and their awareness of pernicious anaemia, are not matters for the Department. It would be for the relevant specialist professional bodies such as the Royal College of Pathologists to provide guidance and professional development on matters relating to haematology.
	Hydroxocobalamin is recommended in preference to cyanacobalamin by the Joint Formulary Committee of the British National Formulary, because it is retained in the body longer than cyanocobalamin and maintenance is thus required less frequently, at intervals of up to three months. The Department has not commissioned research into these treatments.
	The UK National Screening Committee has not recommended in favour of routine screening for pernicious anaemia. However, the Committee does recommend that all pregnant women should be offered a test for anaemia (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Routine Antenatal Care Guideline).

Cancer

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's presentation to the Cancer Policy Forum by Teresa Moss of June 2008.

Ann Keen: Teresa Moss heads the National Cancer Action Team, which is a national health service body. I have drawn the right hon. Member's question to her attention, and she will write to him direct.

Clinical Physiologists: Career Structure

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the current Modernising Scientific Careers proposals on the career pathways of clinical physiologists.

Ann Keen: holding answer 12 January 2009
	Proposals to transform the future training and career pathways of the health care science workforce as set out in The Future of the Healthcare Science Workforce Modernising Scientific Careers: The Next Steps, a copy of which has been placed in the Library are currently out for public consultation which is due to end on 6 March 2009. A response will be published in due course.

Clostridium

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of disinfectant wipes using quarternary ammonium-based formulas against Clostridium difficile.

Ann Keen: The Department has not made any specific assessments regarding the effectiveness of disinfectant wipes using quaternary ammonium-based formulas against Clostridium difficile. However these compounds are not recognised sporicides.
	There are potentially a number of products for sale to the national health service that do not contain chlorine and claim to be sporicidal. NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency has therefore commissioned the research into commercial formulations that claim to be sporicidal and it is expected to be completed by the end of autumn 2009.

Dental Services

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps he has taken to increase access to NHS dentistry; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The importance of developing dental services is reiterated in The NHS in England: The operating framework for 2008-09 published on 9 December 2008, which places a priority on primary care trusts to develop dental services in order to provide access to anyone who seeks help in accessing services.
	This document has already been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_091445
	This is being supported by extra resources—an 11 per cent, uplift in our dental funding allocations for the current year 2008-09, and a further 8.5 per cent, uplift for 2009-10 announced in the Operating Framework, which will take the total central allocation to £2,257 million (net of patient charge income).
	However, there are still areas of the country in which people are unable to access an national health service dentist and we know that we need to do more to ensure that NHS dentistry is available for all who wish to access it. This is why we have appointed an independent review team chaired by Professor Jimmy Steele to help us understand what steps we can take to ensure that every person who wants to access an NHS dentist can do so.

Health Services: Human Trafficking

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the eligibility requirements are for victims of human trafficking to be granted access to safe accommodation funded by the Government.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	To qualify for safe accommodation under the Government-funded Poppy project individuals must be over 18-years-old, trafficked into the United Kingdom and sexual exploited in England and Wales. Priority for accommodation is given to individuals that have experienced exploitation in the immediate three months prior to referral. This year we also piloted support provisions for victims of trafficking for forced labour and domestic servitude.
	We ratified the Council of Europe convention on action against trafficking in human beings on 17 December 2008. This will require us to have minimum levels of support for all identified victims of human trafficking by spring 2009. We are currently tendering for a national support model for victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude, as they share similar high-level support needs. We are also working with the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre to develop support services for victims trafficked into forced labour.

Influenza: Vaccination

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the cost-benefit analysis of the vaccination of pregnant women against seasonal influenza referred to in the minutes of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's meeting of 14 February 2007;
	(2)  when the Health Protection Agency will complete its work examining the impact of influenza on pregnant women referred to in the minutes of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's meeting of 14 February 2007; whether he intends to place a copy of the work in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: At the 14 February 2007 meeting the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) was informed of a preliminary cost benefit analysis of the vaccination of pregnant women being undertaken by the Department. This analysis was not presented at the meeting because further data was required before a decision could be made. The preliminary analysis carried out by Departmental analysts has been placed in the Library.
	Following this preliminary analysis, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) was commissioned by the Department to collect further information on the impact of influenza on pregnant women. This work is ongoing and the JCVI's influenza subgroup is being kept up to date on its progress.

NHS: Drugs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 926W, on NHS: drugs, if he will place in the Library copies of all submissions made to Professor Mike Richards' review reported on in Improving access to medicines for NHS patients.

Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 926W.

Patients: Safety

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were harmed as a result of an error or missed diagnosis in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) Tees Valley district and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: For the period from July 2007 to June 2008, the National Patient Safety Agency received 2,300 reports where patients were harmed due to patient safety incidents classified as diagnostic delay, failure or error. 99 of these incidents were reported from the North East Strategic Health Authority. Reporting and learning data are collected on the basis of service providers. It is therefore not possible to provide a breakdown of data to constituency level.

Assets Recovery Agency

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were under investigation by the Assets Recovery Agency at 31 March 2008 with a view to criminal confiscation where no action had been taken to restrain assets; what the estimated value of the assets under investigation in those cases was; how many of those investigations were subsequently terminated by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency without court action; what the reasons for termination was in each case; what the estimated value of the assets in the cases terminated was; and what steps have been taken to ensure that the relevant assets do not remain in the hands of criminals in those cases terminated without court action in  (a) Northern Ireland and  (b) the UK.

Alan Campbell: Data relating to the transfer of cases from the Assets Recovery Agency to the Serous Organised Crime Agency was not collated to this level of detail, as there would be no operational value and some cost in doing so. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost (through manual collation from case files).

Asylum

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of asylum-seekers  (a) in total and  (b) who will enter and remain in the UK in each year to 2018.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is as follows:
	  (a) People leave their countries of origin and claim asylum elsewhere in response to world events. Where those events will be and the countries to which people flee, are inherently unpredictable. Estimates of the total number of asylum seekers are thus not available.
	  (b) The Proportion of those who do claim in the UK who are subsequently granted leave to remain here also depends on the current world situation at the time of claim. All asylum claims are considered without prejudice on their individual merits in accordance with the UK's obligations under the 1951 UN Convention and the 1967 Protocol. The estimates of the number of asylum seekers who enter and remain in the UK in each year to 2018 is subject to the same level of unpredictability and are thus also unavailable.

British Nationality: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residents of  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency,  (b) the London Borough of Bexley and  (c) London gained full citizenship in each year since 1997.

Phil Woolas: Specific data on the number of residents of Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency who have acquired British citizenship since 1997 is not available.
	The relevant available data refers to the number of people attending British citizenship ceremonies. Those attending such ceremonies may not necessarily be resident within the area of the authority conducting the ceremony. Such data is only captured for citizenship ceremonies attended since 2005 as the requirement to attend such a ceremony was not introduced in law until 2004. It is not possible to separately identify parliamentary constituencies within data because information regarding location is based on the reporting authority.
	Ceremonies are organised by county or local authorities for successful applicants over 18 years of age. The data therefore excludes some grants to applicants under 18.
	Data relating to the number of British citizenship ceremonies attended in Greater London and the London borough of Bexley between 2005 and 2007 is shown in the table.
	National Statistics on persons granted British citizenship are published annually in Home Office Statistical Bulletins. The latest publication may be obtained from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/hosb0508.pdf
	Data regarding British citizenship decisions and ceremonies attended in 2008 are scheduled for publication in May 2009.
	
		
			  Persons attending a British citizenship ceremony by selected region and authority 2005-07( 1) 
			  Number of persons 
			   2005  2006( (R))  2007( (P)) 
			 Greater London region 63,045 56,995 61,690 
			  O f which:
			 Bexley 605 550 605 
			 (1) A ceremony organised by county or local authorities for successful applicants over 18 years of age for British citizenship.

Cannabis

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues and officials in the Ministry of Justice on implementing the proposed three strikes enforcement regime for cannabis possession pursuant to its re-classification as a Class B drug; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: Home Office Ministers and officials have had discussions with their counterparts in the Ministry of Justice throughout the development of the policing response, proposed by the Association of Chief Police Officers, to the possession of cannabis as a Class B drug . Discussions have included the extension of the Penalty Notice for Disorder Scheme to cannabis possession as part of the enforcement regime in respect of which the Ministry of Justice has lead responsibility.

Community Relations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether she has plans to review her Department's policy on protective marking and vetting of documents in response to paragraph 77 of the Audit Commission's November 2008 report Preventing Violent Extremism: Learning and Development Exercise; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps her Department plans to take on the dissemination of information and academic research on the causes of violent extremism following the Audit Commission's report on Preventing Violent Extremism of November 2008; and what steps she plans to take to provide such information to local partnerships;
	(3)  what plans her Department has to develop National Indicator 35 into a measure of the achievement of outcomes as recommended by the Audit Commission in its November 2008 report, Preventing Violent Extremism;
	(4)  what steps her Department plans to take to provide more information identifying factors that make some people vulnerable to becoming involved in violent extremism, as noted on page 23 of the Audit Commission's November 2008 report Preventing Violent Extremism: Learning and Development Exercise; and if she will make a statement;
	(5)  whether she has plans to develop a suite of information sources to be used at local level in relation to counter-terrorism, in response to paragraph 60 of the Audit Commission's November 2008 report Preventing Violent Extremism: Learning and Development Exercise.

Sadiq Khan: I have been asked to reply.
	A number of reviews took place over the summer which sought to draw out learning and emerging practice on the delivery of activity to prevent violent extremism, including the joint Audit Commission and HMIC Learning and Development Exercise (LDE). Though each review had a different focus, together they provide a useful package of learning material upon which local partners can draw and which will inform the Government's approach to Prevent.
	There are a number of common themes which run through all these reviews. Some of these require action from national Government, some from local partners and many from both. We have ensured wide distribution of the LDE report to enable local partners to benefit directly from the important learning it contains in taking forward their local Prevent response. We published "Delivering Prevent—Responding to Learning" on 10 December, which sets out the key strands of learning from the reviews and work already underway to address these key themes. We will continue to develop our response to the reviews throughout the year.
	I will place a copy of "Delivering Prevent—Responding to Learning" in the Library of the House.

Domestic Violence: North East

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps the Government have taken to prevent domestic violence, with particular reference to the North East.

Alan Campbell: The Government are committed to tackling and preventing domestic violence. We have a cross-Government National Domestic Violence Delivery plan which provides a strategic framework to address domestic violence to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice whilst providing the best possible help for victims and their children. The plan ensures agencies work together to identify, track and risk assess domestic violence cases and better share information so that more offenders are brought to justice, victims are protected and better supported; and further violence is prevented.
	Initiatives in the North East of England include the expansion of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court programme (SDVC); the roll-out of multi-agency risk assessment conferences (Northumberland and Durham have one MARAC to cover the county area) and supporting the establishment of Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (currently working in all SDVC areas and also Newcastle, South Tyneside and Northumberland). The Government have also supported regional awareness raising events such as the launch of the "Choice" helpline and the "Honour Network" helpline for survivors of "honour" based violence and forced marriage.

Drug Seizures

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much  (a) heroin and  (b) crack cocaine has been seized in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Campbell: The latest available data on drug seizures is for 2006-07 and can be found in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin series "Seizures of Drugs in England and Wales 2006/07". The quantity of heroin and crack cocaine seized in each of the last 10 years, in England and Wales, is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number and quantity( 1)  of seizures of class A drugs by drug type and year, England and Wales 
			  Number of seizures and quantity seized 
			   Class A (weighed kg)( 2) 
			  Drug type  Crack  Heroin 
			 1997 36 539 
			 1998 27 457 
			 1999 41 1,440 
			 2000 26 3,329 
			 2001 55 3,996 
			 2002 54 2,615 
			 2003 251 2,657 
			 2004 133 2,109 
			 2005 49 1,864 
			 2006-07(3,4) 58 1,003 
			 (1) Drugs can be seized in a variety of forms or preparation types. In this table, quantities of drugs have been converted to weights (kg). In order to convert seizures to comparable units, conversion factors are applied to estimate the overall quantity for that drug. New conversion factors were introduced in 2005, in consultation with the Forensic Science Service. (2) Seizures of unspecified quantities are not included. (3) Reporting of drugs seizures have been moved to a financial year basis from 2006-07 to be comparable with other crime publications. (4) Prior to 2006-07 data included seizures made by the National Crime Squad (NCS). This organisation was merged on 1 April 2006 into the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). SOCA figures are not included due to concerns over double counting. Whereas many joint operations between the NCS and police forces were attributed to the NCS, the majority of SOCA seizures are credited to a local police force when one has been involved. 
		
	
	Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces and HM Revenue and Customs. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Drugs: Prices

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the street price of  (a) heroin and  (b) cocaine.

Alan Campbell: Street prices for drugs vary considerably and are dependent on a number of factors, including purity and quality. The following prices are based on data collected from police forces and the Serious Organised Crime Agency:
	  (a) Heroin - from £25 to £100 per gram, with the most common prices being £40 and £50 per gram.
	  (b) Cocaine - from £20 to £80 per gram, with the most common price being £40 per gram.

Genetics: Databases

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if she will bring forward proposals to impose time limits on the retention of people's DNA profiles on the national DNA database related to the seriousness of the offence where convicted;
	(2)  if she will bring forward proposals to remove from the national DNA database profiles of people who have not been convicted of an offence.

Alan Campbell: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary European Court ruling in her speech on 16 December to the Intellect Trade Association dealing with surveillance issues.
	We are carefully considering the detail of the Judgment in the S and Marper case and its implications. DNA is a prime example where benefits to the criminal justice system and the rights of the individual need to be carefully balanced.
	That is why our approach to the European Court's Judgment will be subject to wide consultation this year in a White Paper on Forensics.

Genetics: Databases

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the performance of  (a) the National DNA Database and  (b) the Independent Safeguarding Authority database.

Alan Campbell: The National DNA Database (NDNAD) is a police intelligence tool which contributes to the efficiency of crime detection. It contributes to detections, eliminates the innocent from inquiries and focuses the direction of inquiries.
	The use of NDNAD saves police time and builds public confidence that offenders may be detected and brought to justice.
	The NDNAD provides the police matches with DNA taken from a person with DNA found at the scene of a crime. Police are now being provided with almost 3,100 matches a month. It is estimated that over the period April 1998 to March 2008, there have been over 272,000 detections in which a DNA match was available. DNA evidence will have contributed to solving many of these crimes, but it is not possible to say whether the DNA match was the key factor in solving the crime.
	Further information on the effectiveness of the NDNAD is available in the latest National DNA Database Annual Report, that for 2006-07, which is available at:
	http://www.npia.police.uk/en/11403.htm
	We have also worked closely with the National Institute of Justice in the United States of America to produce a study on DNA, which can be found at:
	http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/222318.pdf
	The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) maintains a database of information on cases referred by employers under the Protection of Vulnerable Adults, Protection of Children Act, and "List 99" barring arrangements, in order to provide advice to Ministers on barring decisions. Any data is held for these purposes. Additional information in respect of these referrals may be sought from the police. When the Authority is fully operational it will also obtain criminal records and other police information from the Criminal Records Bureau. It will also maintain the barred lists in respect of children and vulnerable adults required by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. No assessment of effectiveness has yet been made, but performance indicators are being developed for the ISA as a whole.

Genetics: Databases

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances an individual's DNA profile may be deleted from the national DNA database.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 15 December 2008
	Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), the police have the power indefinitely to retain profiles on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) derived from samples taken from persons arrested for a recordable offence and detained in a police station, regardless of whether they are charged or convicted.
	While the decision on whether to agree to a request from an individual to have their DNA profile removed from the NDNAD lies with the chief officer of the police force which took the sample, profiles will normally be retained unless there are exceptional circumstances.
	Policy on the retention of DNA and fingerprint records is being reviewed in light of the Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of S and Marper. The Government will consider their response to the Judgment in conjunction with the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers and a Government White Paper on Forensics will be published next year on proposals to implement the Judgment.

Human Trafficking: Prostitution

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research she has commissioned on the links between prostitution and trafficking.

Alan Campbell: To inform the Government's Tackling the Demand for Prostitution: A Review, the Home Office commissioned research from the child and woman abuse studies unit at London metropolitan university which compared prostitution regimes across nine countries. This considered the impact of trafficking on the development of these regimes and the effect of each regime on levels of trafficking. We also commissioned a Rapid Evidence Assessment to look at existing research on the demand for prostitution. This considered the extent to which trafficking contributed to the demand for prostitution and the effect of different approaches to tackling demand on levels of trafficking. These reports will be published this year.

Hunting: Prosecutions

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) charges,  (b) prosecutions,  (c) convictions,  (d) cautions and  (e) fines there have been for breaches of the Hunting Act 2004 in each police force area since its enactment.

Alan Campbell: Data provided by the Ministry of Justice showing the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, found guilty and fined at all courts, for offences under the 2004 Hunting Act, in England and Wales, broken down by police force area from 2005 to 2007 are in table 1. Charging data are not collected centrally by the Ministry of Justice.
	Data showing the number of offenders cautioned for offences under the 2004 Hunting Act in England and Wales, broken down by police force area from 2005 to 2007 are in table 2.
	The Hunting Act came into force on 18 February 2005.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, found guilty and fined at all courts, for offences under the 2004 Hunting Act, England and Wales, broken down by police force area, 2005( 1)  to 2007( 2,3,4) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty  Fined 
			  Force  2005  2006  2007  2005  2006  2007  2005  2006  2007 
			 Avon and Somerset — — 2 — — 2 — — 2 
			 Cheshire — 2 1 — 2 1 — 2 1 
			 Cleveland — — 1 — — 1 — — 1 
			 Derbyshire — — 2 — — 2 — — 2 
			 Durham — 1 — — — — — — — 
			 Essex — 4 — — 3 — — 3 — 
			 Hampshire — — 4 — — 4 — — — 
			 Humberside — 4 8 — — 8 — — 7 
			 Lancashire — — 2 — — 2 — — 2 
			 Lincolnshire — — 7 — — 7 — — 7 
			 Merseyside 1 — 25 1 — 19 1 — 17 
			 Northumbria — — 6 — — — — — — 
			 Suffolk — — 2 — — 1 — — 1 
			 Thames Valley 2 — — 2 — — 2 — — 
			 North Wales — — 2 — — 1 — — 1 
			 England and Wales 3 11 62 3 5 48 3 5 41 
			 (1) The 2004 Hunting Act came into force on 18 February 2005. (2) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Only police force areas (PFAs) with data have been included in the table—if a PFA has not been included assume nil data. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of offenders cautioned( 1)  under the 2004 Hunting Act, England and Wales, broken down by police force area, 2005( 2)  to 2007( 3,4,5) 
			  Force  2005  2006  2007 
			 Kent — — 2 
			 Merseyside — — 3 
			 North Yorkshire — — 1 
			 Northumbria 1 — 1 
			 Thames Valley — — 1 
			 Total 1 0 8 
			 (1) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (2) The 2004 Hunting Act came into force on 18 February 2005. (3) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (5) Only police force areas (PFAs) with data have been included in the table—if a PFA has not been included assume nil data.

Nurses: Zimbabwe

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits have been issued to  (a) doctors and  (b) nurses from Zimbabwe since 1 January 2008.

Phil Woolas: The following table provides information on work permits issued to Zimbabwean nationals. The figures relate to work permit applications granted both at initial consideration stage and those successful on review, for the period 1 January 2008 to 30 November 2008.
	 Caveats:
	The term 'work permit application' includes all work permit application types—including work permit extensions, change of employment and technical changes to existing work permits and therefore does not equate to the number of individuals to whom permits were issued.
	The term doctors/nurses refers to the occupation description containing the word 'nurse' or 'doctor'; and excludes persons admitted under the Highly Skilled Migrant programme or the points-based system.
	These figures include applications made both in and out of country.
	
		
			  Nationality  Doctor  Nurses  Total 
			 Zimbabwe 10 1,100 1,110 
			 Total 10 1,100 1,110 
			  Note: Figures are rounded to nearest 5. Because of rounding figures may not add up to totals shown. 
		
	
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Police Cautions

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases of  (a) violence against the person , (b) sexual offences,  (c) robbery,  (d) burglary,  (e) theft,  (f) fraud and forgery, (g) criminal damage and  (h) drugs offences police cautions were given in each of the last five years; and what proportion of such cases were first offences.

Alan Campbell: Information provided by the Ministry of Justice showing the number of offenders cautioned for selected offence groups in England and Wales, from 2003 to 2007 are in the following table.
	It is not possible to identify, from the information on cautions reported to the Ministry of Justice, how many of these cautions were for first offences.
	
		
			  Number of offenders( 1)  cautioned( 2)  for Violence Against the Person, Sexual Offences, Burglary, Robbery, Theft and Handling Stolen Goods, Fraud and Forgery, Criminal Damage and Drug Offences, England and Wales, 2003 to 2007( 3,4) 
			  Offence type  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Violence against the person 28,760 36,610 51,020 57,273 52,335 
			 Sexual offences 1,359 1,553 1,761 1,922 1,966 
			 Burglary 5,568 5,604 6,451 7,687 6,972 
			 Robbery 422 451 622 712 614 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 54,466 61,943 67,619 72,369 72,790 
			 Fraud and forgery 5,484 6,033 6,936 8,024 8,587 
			 Criminal damage 3,726 5,495 7,246 9,018 8,813 
			 Drug offences 45,706 32,620 34,390 37,426 43,050 
			 Total 145,491 150,309 176,045 194,431 195,127 
			 (1) Includes other offenders i.e. companies, public bodies etc. (2) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (3) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: E and A Unit—Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases the Serious and Organised Crime Agency completed in  (a) Northern Ireland and  (b) the UK in the first six months of 2008-09; what the value of the assets recovered in those cases was; how many of those cases related to work inherited from the Assets Recovery Agency; and what the value of assets recovered in such inherited cases was.

Alan Campbell: The Serious Organised Crime Agency closed 75 operations and projects in the first six months of this financial year. SOCA operational activity is often multi-faceted with concurrent activity across the UK and internationally, these figures are therefore not available on a regional basis.
	Data relating to cases transferred from the Assets Recovery Agency to SOCA is not collated in the form requested.
	Figures relating to SOCA's UK-wide performance for the financial year 2008-09, including performance on asset recovery, will be included in SOCA's Annual Report for 2008-09, when published.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) financial investigators and  (b) lawyers were employed by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency solely on assets recovery work in (i) the UK and (ii) Northern Ireland on 30 September 2008.

Alan Campbell: On 30 September, 2008 the Serious Organised Crime Agency employed 230 financial investigators working in the UK on tackling criminal finances and profits, including through asset recovery, and 22 lawyers in the UK who were dedicated to civil asset recovery work. SOCA is a UK-wide agency and as such staff from across the organisation work on particular pieces of activity.

Serious Organised Crime Agency: Assets Recovery Agency

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were transferred by the Assets Recovery Agency to the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) on 31 March 2008 in which proceedings for civil recovery or taxation had been initiated in  (a) Northern Ireland and  (b) the UK; what the estimated value of the assets restrained in those cases was; how many of those cases related to (i) oils and (ii) tobacco fraud; and what the value of assets was in (A) oil and (B) tobacco fraud cases so transferred.

Alan Campbell: Data relating to the transfer of cases over from the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) was not collated to this level of detail, as there would be no operational value and some cost in doing so. 147 civil recovery operations and 38 tax operations were opened as a result of the transfer of cases from ARA to SOCA. Further relevant information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost (through manual collation from case files).

UK Border Agency: Manpower

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency staff are responsible for  (a) managing citizenship applications and  (b) developing citizenship policy; and what estimate she has made of the cost of employing these staff in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11.

Phil Woolas: The Nationality Group deals with citizenship applications and is based in Liverpool, north-west region.
	 (a) The number of staff responsible for managing citizenship applications are currently the full-time equivalent of 333.68 (as at 30 November).
	 (b) The number of staff responsible for developing citizenship policy is six, which are not included in the number above.
	 (c) The estimated costs of employing these staff in 2008.09 are £6.74 million. For 2009-10 and 2010-11 UKBA is currently reviewing plans and forecasts for these years and is therefore unable to provide this information until these plans have been finalised and agreed by the UKBA Board.